Chapter 11 Summary

Rachel interviews Coach Al for the school newspaper. She feels strangely disconnected, as if she were observing her own life. The coach talks about how he had to abandon his dream of being a professional basketball player when he stopped growing at 17. Instead, he became a champion college wrestler. Rachel sits staring blankly, trying to take notes. Finally, she interrupts him mid-sentence and says, "My grandfather is dying." He pats her arm.

Outside, she sees Helena and tells her. Rachel feels guilty for telling Helena because it seems like she's just using her grandfather to try to get sympathy.

Chapter 11 Analysis

Rachel immaturely continues to focus on her own thoughts and needs, rather than Izzy's or her family's. She has trouble absorbing the reality of Izzy's impending death because she has trouble empathizing with him. Rachel feels numb, like an observer in her...